The Sooner the Better by Debbie Macomber Page B

it’s my turn.”
    â€œFeel free.” He gestured toward her.
    â€œYou’ve already started drinking. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    â€œYou get to ask me a question, sweetheart, not preach a sermon.”
    â€œAll right.” She cast him a look of pure disgust. “What exactly do you intend to do about the lack of supplies?”
    He laughed at the sheer foolishness of her question. “You don’t have anything to worry about, Your Highness.”
    To her credit, she ignored his teasing. “So what are we going to do?”
    The answer seemed obvious. “Buy more, of course.”
    Â 
    Lorraine had never disliked anyone so fiercely in her whole life. Jack Keller was rude, insensitive and vulgar. It was beyond comprehension that her father had freely handed her over to this…barbarian. Reluctantly she had to conclude that her situation must be far more dangerous than she’d realized.
    The morning had seemed interminable. The sun beat down with an intensity that robbed her of strength. All wit had abandoned her. Jack seemed to take great pleasure in ridiculing her and calling her ridiculous names like Your Highness. He spouted insults, and when he wasn’t mocking her, he called her Raine. The only person who’d ever called her that was her father. When Jack said it, hemade it sound, somehow, as though he was speaking to a disobedient child.
    The one positive aspect of the morning was that she’d finally adjusted to the boat’s movement on the water. She wasn’t sure if it was the lack of anything in her stomach or if she’d found what he referred to as her sea legs. Whichever, she was grateful. She’d never spent any time on a boat before and had no idea what else to expect.
    Gazing out at the horizon, Lorraine suddenly saw land—an outcropping of lush green hills far in the distance. That excited her so much she climbed awkwardly out of her chair and shuffled toward the rear of the boat.
    â€œWhere are we?” she asked.
    â€œMexico.”
    â€œ That much I know,” she returned, trying not to sound sarcastic. At this point, it was difficult. She sighed, loudly and expressively. “Are we buying supplies here?” she asked.
    â€œThat’s the plan.”
    She couldn’t quite hide her relief. It was clear to her, if not Jack, that they couldn’t continue this voyage without obtaining some food.
    As they headed toward land, Lorraine noticed a number of high-rise luxury hotels in the distance. “What city is that?” she asked when curiosity overcame her unwillingness to ask him any further questions.
    â€œCampeche,” he said, and didn’t elaborate.
    Lorraine remembered reading about the town in the information she’d gathered when she was researching the Yucatán Peninsula. If she recalled correctly, the city was one of the fastest-growing tourist spots in the region. There were a number of Mayan ruins close by.
    â€œDon’t get your hopes up,” Jack said.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWe aren’t going to Campeche.”
    â€œWe aren’t?” She frowned in disappointment. “But—”
    â€œWe can’t risk it.”
    In her opinion, they’d probably be safer in a large city where they could get lost in anonymous crowds. Not that he’d given her any say in the matter, nor did he seem at all interested in her opinions. “Well, if not Campeche, where are we going?”
    â€œLa Ruta Maya,” he said. “That means route of the Maya. It’s a small village down the coast from Campeche. Tradition says the village was on the main artery for Mayan traders a thousand years ago.
    â€œI’ve docked there in the past,” Jack added, “and I can buy supplies with a minimum of fuss. That way we can be in and out of port quickly.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œI don’t think you do,” Jack said, narrowing his